Health inspectors have issued a temporary closure order to the United Airlines United Club lounge at Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) after the facility failed an inspection yesterday. The lounge was found by officials to have been in violation of local regulations, forcing it to shut its doors.
The report by the health inspectors highlighted a wide range of areas in which the facility was falling short, with cleanliness and the storage of food being among the major sticking points. While Philadelphia is not a hub for United Airlines, the Chicago-based US ‘big three’ legacy carrier and Star Alliance founding member still has a considerable presence at the airport, with almost 500 departures next month.
Temporary Shutdown
As first reported by One Mile At A Time, the entrance to the United Club lounge at Philadelphia International Airport has been slapped with a bright yellow poster from the Department of Health that outlines, in no uncertain terms, that it cannot currently be legally used. The inspection is said to have taken place between 10:40 and 13:30 yesterday, with the presence of passengers after 12:00 declared to be illegal.
According to One Mile At A Time, the failings highlighted by the inspectors include the fact that, as the report puts it, “the person in charge has a class certificate but no Philadelphia Health Department issued Food Manager Food Safety Certificate.” According to United Airlines, when the lounge is open, it operates between 05:00 and 18:00 every day, and it is located on Level 2 at Philadelphia International Airport.
Simple Flying has reached out to United Airlines for further information on this matter. We will update our coverage upon receiving a comment or statement from the carrier.
What Went Wrong?
The incorrect certification of the person in charge of the United Club lounge at Philadelphia International Airport was, in fact, just the tip of the iceberg as far as the failings highlighted by the local health inspectors in Pennsylvania. Indeed, the facility also lacks adequate hot water provision for food preparation employees to wash their hands, as it was probed at just 74.8 degrees F, as opposed to the mandated 100.
Also on this front, inspectors highlighted the fact that neither soap nor a sign reminding food preparation employees to wash their hands was present in this part of the lounge, although these were provided by officials after the closure. Food debris was also observed in this area, where one of the sinks was found to have faulty dispensers for sanitizer and dish detergent, as well as a lack of a splash guard.
| United Airlines’ Philadelphia Departures (One-Way) In October 2025 (Per Cirium) | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Departures |
| Mainline | 383 |
| United Express | 99 |
| Total | 482 |
Away from the lounge’s food preparation area, its toilets were also found to be lacking, with visible evidence of a fly infestation said to have been found in the men’s bathrooms. This issue was also observed in the bar, where the flies were seen to be landing on surfaces, while black stains were highlighted in the serving area’s lower cabinets. All in all, the lounge has a lot to fix before it can reopen to the public again.
Where Does United Airlines Fly From Philadelphia?
As detailed in the previous table, current scheduling data made available by Cirium, an aviation analytics company, shows that Philadelphia is a key airport for United, with 482 departures scheduled in October 2025. Of the 99 flights operated under the United Express brand, 75 serve Washington Dulles (IAD).
These flights are operated by GoJet Airlines using the Bombardier CRJ550, while the other 24 United Express flights use Embraer E-Jets to serve Houston (Mesa Airlines) and Dulles (Republic Airlines). As it happens, Houston (IAH) also sees mainline flights with Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 family jets.
Denver is another key domestic destination for United from Philadelphia, with all but one of its 88 departures using 737s (the A319 operates the odd flight out). Closer to home, Chicago O’Hare (ORD) has 150 departures next month, of which 34 use A320 family jets and the rest are served by 737s. United’s sole true transcontinental route from Philadelphia serves San Francisco (SFO), with 58 Boeing 737 departures.
Credits: United Airlines
